Electric signal device.



PATENTED APR. l1, 1905 L. S. WALLE.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. 1903.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? BY HIS A TTORNE) Patented April 11, 1905.

UNTTEE STATES PATENT OEFIcE.

LUDWIU S. \VALLE, OF BhOOliLYN, NE\\" YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FRIDTJOF JEBSEN, OF BERGEN, NORNVAY.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION fonning part of Letters Patent No. 787,318, dated April 11, 1905.

Application filed December 29, 1903. Serial No. 187,079.

To (0 [rim/)2. it HUI [j concern..-

lie it known thatl, LUmvm S. "ALLE, a sub- 1 l l I l l l tromagnet from a distance and is set and held in any one of a number of predetermined positions by the current in the electromagnetcoils, wluch is controlled by the operator.

The object of my invention is to provide a 9 simple device by means of which an indicator maybe set in any one of several positions and which will require the least possible number of separate circuits or wires to operate the signal. To accomplish this result, I provide an indicator which is pivoted near its center and provided atone end with a counterweight Which forms one pole of a permanent magnet. On either side of this indicator are provided electwmagnets with their pole-pieces extending toward the permanent magnet on said in: dicator. The coils of the clectromagnet are connected in series, but wound in opposite directions. Consequently when the current flows in these coils the indicator will be attracted to one side or the other, depending upon the direction of said current. Thus by reversing the current the indicator will be set in two different and opposite positions, and when the current is cut out entirely the counterweight will bring the indicator to a third or middle position. To hold the indicator in any one of these three positions after the electromagnet is ino1 )erative, .l. have provided a locking device operated by the energizingcurrent to release the indicator when the current flows in either direction and which is also operated independently of the electromagnet-coil when it is desired to bring the indicator to the middle position.

He ferring now to the drawings, 1 have shown in lfigure l a front elevation of a signal embodying my invention in a preferred form and illustrating an indicator adapted to l l l l l l be operated in three positions by a pair of electromagnets. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of 5 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a form of switch adapted to reverse the direction of the current in the electromagnet-coil and also to cut out the current in these coilsand connect into circuit a coil of the locking device independently of the electromagnet-coils to allow the counterweight to bring the indicator to its middle position. Fig. +1; is a detail view of the switch-lever and contacts shown in Fig. 3.

On a suitable base I is provided an indica- 6 tor-supporting pivot 23, upon which is mounted an intermediate indicator member 50. At the upper end of this intermediate member is provided an imlicator-pointer 2 and at the lower end a spherical counterweight at, the intermediate member 50 and the counterweight 4, together with the connecting means between the same, constituting a permanent magnet having one pole in said counterweight and the opposite pole at the upper end of the member 50 above the pivotal point 3. On either side of the indicator are provided electromagnet-coils 5 and 6, having pole-pieces T and 8, respectively, extending inward to act more readily upon the indicator-magnet &.

At 9 is shown a locking device. Two coils are provided to operate this device, as shown in Fig. 2 and marked 2)" and 9. One of these coils operates in series with the electromagnet-coils 5 and 6, while the other operates in- 8 dependently to release the locking mechanism when the electromagnet-eoils are inoperative, will be more fully explained hereinafter. The lockingdevice is provided with an armature 10, which is pivoted at 11 and provided- 5 at its opposite end with two stops, preferably spherical in form, such as 12 and 13. These stops are so located in relation to the indicater-magnet 1L as to hold said indicator in any one of its three positions when the cur- 9 rent is cut out from the opcrating-circuit until it is connected into circuit again to move the indicator. The arm l0, together with its stops l2 and 13, is so balanced that when no current flows in either coil 9 or 9 they will stand as shown and hold the indicator; but

when the current flows in either of these coils the arm is drawn down, thus raising stops 12 and 13 out of engagement with the indicator and allowing it to swing to either side or to return to the middle position, according as current flows or does not flow in coils 5 and 6.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown a switch for controlling the current in the aforesaid coils. In the form shown, 14 represents a lever of insulating material carrying contact-pieces 15 and 16 at either end and which are adapted to close the energizing-circuit from a battery 17 or other suitable source of current, through contacts 18 and 19, to the buttons 20, 21, or 22 on one side and to 23, 24, or 25 on the other. At 26 is provided a push button, switch, or any suitable form of circuit-closing device, which is normally open, but is closed by the operator after the controlling switch-lever 14 has been moved to the desired position. At 27 is provided a hell or other form of audible signal located near the indicator and which rings when the circuit is closed through the operating-coils to change the position of the indicator.

The operation of the signal is as follows: Assume that the permanent magnet forming part of the indicator-arm has its positive pole at the lower end in the counterweight 4 and that the electromagnets 5 and 6 are so wound that when the current flows from coil 5 to coil 6 pole-piece 7 will be a positive pole and pole-piece 8 a negative pole. This results in the indicator being drawn to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the circuit is closed and the stop raised by the same current. The path of the current is as follows: from the battery 17, through a connection 28, to contact 18. Assuming lever 14 to be in the dotted position shown in Fig. 3, contact-piece 15 closes the circuit to button 20 through line 29 to binding-post 30 and line 31 to coil 9 through line 32 to coil 5 and connection 33 to coil 6 to line 34 to binding-post 35 to line 36 through bell 27 and line 37 to switch 26 to line 38 and 39 to button 23 and through contact 16 to 19 and line 40 to battery 17. When lever 14 is in the position connecting buttons 22 and 25 with contacts 18 and 19, respectively, it is seen that the current is reversed, and consequently the polarity of 7 and 8 is reversed, which results in drawing the indicator to the opposite side. hen the switch 26 is operated to open the circuit through the magnets 5, 6, and 9 the armature 1O assumes its normal position, so as to place the balls 12 or 13 in the path of the ball 4 before the indicator-arm has time to return to its central position. To set the indicator in the middle position, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 1, assume the controlling-switch to be in the middle position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The current now flows, as before, to 18 and through 15 to 21, to line 41,

to post 42, to line 43, to coil 9 to 44 and post 35, to line 36, to bell 27 and line 37, to'switch 26 and line 38 and 45, to button 24 and contacts 16 and 19, to line 40 and the battery 17 This releases the stop by drawing the armature 10 down and raising l2 and 13, allowing the indicator to come to the middle or vertical position by the action of gravity on the counterweight 4.

In all the above operations as soon as the push-button switch 26 is released, opening the energizing-circuit, the stops 12 and 13 resume their normal position, as shown, thus holding the indicator in position until a new signal is given.

It will be evident that this invention can be used for many purposes and that various changes may be made in the different parts of the device as shown without departing from the scope of my invention. I do not limit myself to the particular device or means for operating the several parts of the same, as this is intended as an illustration only of one embodiment of my invention.

Vhat I claim is- 1. In an electric signal device, the combination of an indicator a portion of which is a permanent magnet, an electromagnet for operating said indicator, means for the reversal of the current in the coil of said electromagnet, and an electrically-operated locking device to hold said indicator. in a predetermined position when said electromagnet is inoperative.

2. In an electric signal device, the combination of an indicator a portion of which is a permanent magnet, an electromagnet for operating said indicator, means for the reversal of the current in the coil of said electromagnet, and an electrically-operated locking device acting in conjunction with the operatingmagnet to release said indicator and allow it to be operated by said operating-magnet when the current flows in the coil thereof.

3. In an electric signal device. the combination of an indicator a portion of which is a permanent magnet, an electromagnet for operating said indicator, means for the reversal of the current in the coil of said electromagnet, and an electrically-operated locking device acting in conjunction with the operatingmagnet to release said indicator and allow it to be operated by said operating-magnet when the current flows in the coil thereof, and means for releasing and returning said indicator to its initial position when current does not flow in said operating-coil, substantially as described.

4. In an electric signal device, the combina' tion of ,an indicator a portion of which is a permanent magnet, an electromagnet for operating said indicator, means for the reversal of the current in the coil of said electromagnet, an electrically-operated locking device 'i'szsis acting in conjunction with the operating-magl movement of said indicator to either side of net to release said indicator and allow it to be operated bysaid operating-magnet when current flows in the coil thereof, and a counterweight for returning said indicator to its initial position when current does not flow in said operating-coil, substantially as described.

In an electric signal device, the combination of an indicator one end of which is a permanent magnet. an electromagnet for operating said indicator by means of a reversal of the current in the coil thereof, an electricallyoperated locking device operative to release said indicator when the current flows in said operating-magnets and to hold said indicator in a predetermined position when the operating-circuit is cut out, and means for reversing said current in said operating-coil.

6. In anelectric signal device, the combination of an indicator one end of which is a permanent magnet, a pair of electromagncts acting in conjunction with and on opposite sides of said indicator and in which the polarity is changed by the reversal of the current in the coils to move said indicator in accordance therewith, an electrically-operated lockingdevice operative to release said indicator when the current flows in said operating-magnets and to hold said indicator in a predetermined position when the operating-circuit is cut out, and means for reversing said current in said operating-coils.

T. In an electric signal device, the combination of an indicator one end of which is a permanent magnet, a pair of electromagnets acting in conjunction with and on opposite sides of said indicator and in which the polarity is changed by the reversal of the currentin the coils to move said indicator in accordance therewith, an electrically-operated locking device operative to release said indicator when the current flows in said operating-magnets and to hold said indicator in a predetermined position when the operating-circuit is cut out, and a circuit-closing switch for reversing the current in said operating-coils.

S. in an electric signal device, the combination of an indicator, an operating-magnet so placed in relation to said indicator that the reversal of the magnetizing-current produces a movement of said indicator to either side of the normal position thereof according to the direction of flow of said magnetizing-cm-rent, means for controlling said current, and a locking device operated in conjunction with said operating-magnet to release said indicator when the current tlows in the coils thereof and to hold the indicator on either side of the normal position thereof when the current ceases to flow in said coils, substantially as described.

9. in an electric signal device, the combination of an indicator, an operating-magnet so placed in relation to said indicator that the reversal of the magnetizing-current produces a the normal position thereof according to the direction of flow ofsaid magnetizing-current, means for controllingsaid current, and a locking device operated in conjunction with said operatingmagnet to release said indicator when current flows in the coils thereof and to hold the indicator on either side of the normal position thereof when the current ceases to flow in said coils, a counterweight at one end operative to bring said indicator to its normal position when released by said locking device, substantially as described.

10. In an electric signal device, the com bination of an indicator, an operating-magnet so placed in relation to said indicator that the reversal of the magnetizing-current produces a movement of said indicator to either side of the normal position thereof according to the direction of flow of the magnetizing-current, means for controlling said current, a locking device having a magnet-coil in series with said indicator-operating coil to release said indicator when the current llows in said coils and also having a second magnet-coil operating to release said locking device and allow the indicator to return to its normal position, a counterweight at one end operative to bring said indicator to its normal position when released by said locking device, substantially as described.

11. In an electric signal device, the combination of an indicator, an operatinganagnet so placed in relation to said indicator that the re versal of the magnetizirig-current produces a movement of said indicator to either side of the normal position thereof according to the direction of flow of the magnetizing-current, means for controlling said current, a locking device comprising a lever pivoted near the center, having one end adapted to retain said indicator in a predetermined position and having at the opposite end a counterweight forming an armature adapted to be operated by a magnet-coil to move said lever and release said indicator when the current [lows therein and to return toits normal position retaining said indicator when said currentc ases to flow, substantially as described.

12. In an electric signal device, the com bination of an indicator, an operating-magnet so placed in relation to said indicator that the reversal of the magnetizing-current produces a movement of said indicator to either side of the normal position thereof according to the direction of flow of the magnetizing-(a1rrent, means for controlling said current, a locking device comprising a lever pivoted near the center, having at one end a pair of extending arms adapted to retain said indicator in a predetermined position and having at the opposite end a counterweight forming an armature operated in conjunction with a pair of magnet-coils, one of which is connected in series with said indicator-operating"- coil, to move said lever and release said indicator when current flows in either of said coils and to return to its normal position retaining said indicator when the current ceases to flow, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 10th day of December, A. D. 1903.

LUDVVIG S. VVALLE.

Witnesses:

LEWIs J DooLI'rTLE, FRIDTJOF J EBSEN. 

